Future Supply of Pediatric Surgeons: Analytical Study of the Current and Projected Supply of Pediatric Surgeons in the Context of a Rapidly Changing Process for Specialty and Subspecialty Training.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the future supply and demand for pediatric surgeons using a physician supply model to determine what the future supply of pediatric surgeons will be over the next decade and a half and to compare that projected supply with potential indicators of demand and the growth of other subspecialties. BACKGROUND: Anticipating the supply of physicians and surgeons in the future has met with varying levels of success. However, there remains a need to anticipate supply given the rapid growth of specialty and subspecialty fellowships. This analysis is intended to support decision making on the size of future fellowships in pediatric surgery. METHODS: The model used in the study is an adaptation of the FutureDocs physician supply and need tool developed to anticipate future supply and need for all physician specialties. Data from national inventories of physicians by specialty, age, sex, activity, and location are combined with data from residency and fellowship programs and accrediting bodies in an agent-based or microsimulation projection model that considers movement into and among specialties. Exits from practice and the geographic distribution of physician and the patient population are also included in the model. Three scenarios for the annual entry into pediatric surgery fellowships (28, 34, and 56) are modeled and their effects on supply through 2030 are presented. RESULTS: The FutureDocs model predicts a very rapid growth of the supply of surgeons who treat pediatric patients-including general pediatric surgeon and focused subspecialties. The supply of all pediatric surgeons will grow relatively rapidly through 2030 under current conditions. That growth is much faster than the rate of growth of the pediatric population. The volume of complex surgical cases will likely match this population growth rate meaning there will be many more surgeons trained for those procedures. The current entry rate into pediatric surgery fellowships (34 per year) will result in a slowing of growth after 2025, a rate of 56 will generate a continued growth through 2030 with a likely plateau after 2035. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of entry into pediatric surgery will continue to exceed population growth through 2030 under two likely scenarios. The very rapid anticipated growth in focused pediatric subspecialties will likely prove challenging to surgeons wishing to maintain their skills with complex cases as a larger and more diverse group of surgeons will also seek to care for many of the conditions and patients which the general pediatric surgeons and general surgeons now see. This means controlling the numbers of pediatric surgery fellowships in a way that recognizes problems with distribution, the volume of cases available to maintain proficiency, and the dynamics of retirement and shifts into other specialty practice.

Implementation of a pediatric enhanced recovery pathway decreases opioid utilization and shortens time to full feeding.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathway for pediatric patients undergoing surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) would be beneficial. METHODS: This is a single institution retrospective comparative study comparing patients treated with an ERAS pathway to consecutive patients in a Preimplementation Cohort (PIC) with similar open and laparoscopic surgeries for IBD. The pathway emphasized minimal preoperative fasting, multimodal and regional analgesia, and early enteral nutrition after surgery. Primary endpoints were time to 120 mL of PO intake (POI), length of stay (LOS), opioid utilization, and 30-day surgical outcomes. Continuous and categorical variables were compared (p < 0.05). RESULTS: There were 23 PIC and 28 ERAS patients with similar demographic data and surgical and anesthetic approaches. ERAS patients experienced a significant increase in the use of regional anesthesia, faster time to POI, and a nonsignificant decrease in mean LOS. ERAS patients had decreased total and daily opioid use with similar complication rates. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of a pediatric ERAS pathway for IBD patients requiring laparoscopic and (unique to this study) open surgery. The study demonstrates that opioid utilization and time to feeding can be positively impacted using ERAS pathways without negatively impacting outcomes. TYPE OF STUDY: Retrospective comparative study. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.

Appendicostomy for intraluminal antibiotic administration and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in severe Hirschsprung's enterocolitis.

A term male infant with Hirschsprung's disease underwent an uncomplicated laparoscopic-assisted endorectal pull-through procedure. Four weeks after discharge, the patient developed severe Clostridium difficile enterocolitis with hemodynamic instability and peritonitis. Bedside laparotomy confirmed intestinal viability and accommodated an appendicostomy for antegrade vancomycin colonic irrigations. The patient required venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for physiological support for more than six days. Transition to conventional support was successful with survival and discharge from the hospital free from hemorrhagic complications. The patient is now developmentally appropriate for his age.

Massive transfusion and blood product use in the pediatric trauma patient.

Hemorrhagic shock in the pediatric trauma patient is an uncommon but fundamental problem for the treating clinician. Current management of hemorrhagic shock involves initial resuscitation with crystalloid fluids followed by infusion of blood components as necessary. In management of the adult trauma patient, many institutions have implemented massive transfusion protocols to guide transfusion in situations requiring or anticipating the use of greater than 10 U of packed red blood cells. In the pediatric population, guidelines for massive transfusion are vague or nonexistent. Adult trauma transfusion protocols can be applied to children until a pediatric protocol is validated. Here, we attempt to identify certain principles of transfusion therapy specific to pediatric trauma and outline a sample pediatric massive transfusion protocol that may be used to guide resuscitation. Also, adjuncts to transfusion, such as colloid fluids, other plasma expanders or hemoglobin substitutes, and recombinant activated factor VII, are discussed.

Right ventricular outflow tract stent as a bridge to surgery in a premature infant with tetralogy of Fallot.

Despite dramatic progress in neonatal cardiac surgery, prematurity and low birth weight remain risk factors for poor outcome. Attempts to delay intervention with supportive therapy have been shown to increase morbidity and mortality. We present a case of an 840 gram, 28-week gestation newborn with tetralogy of Fallot, in whom palliation was achieved with a right ventricular outflow tract stent. This management allowed subsequent successful complete repair.

Serum amylase and lipase alone are not cost-effective screening methods for pediatric pancreatic trauma.

BACKGROUND: Injury to the pancreas is rare in pediatric trauma. Identification of pancreatic injury relies on clinical, radiographic, and laboratory data. Serum screening for pancreatic injury frequently is used but has not proven to correlate well with pancreatic injury. This study investigated utility and cost effectiveness of serum assessment of amylase and lipase. METHODS: A retrospective study of 1,821 pediatric trauma patients over 64 months was conducted. A total of 293 (16%) of these patients suffered trauma to the torso 195 (11%) of whom had confirmed intraabdominal injury. Eight pancreatic injuries (4% of abdominal injuries) were identified; 5 underwent surgery for pancreatic ductal injury. One patient not operated on had a pseudocyst that required late drainage. RESULTS: Serum amylase or lipase levels (AMY/LIP) were measured in 507 (28%) patients. A total of 116 (23%) had elevated AMY/LIP levels. Six of 8 with proven pancreatic injury underwent AMY/LIP testing; 5 had elevated values. Forty-eight percent of patients with elevated AMY/LIP levels had no evidence of intraabdominal injury. Seventy-four of 116 (64%) with elevated AMY/LIP levels underwent abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) scanning, yet 38 (51%) of these had completely normal scans. Many patients with elevated AMY/LIP levels (cost, $6 per test) underwent screening CT scans (cost, $592 per test) based on AMY/LIP alone. No patient with elevated AMY/LIP levels but without clinical suspicion was proven to have pancreatic injury. Cost data are presented. CONCLUSIONS: Serum amylase and lipase determinations may support clinical suspicion in the diagnosis of pediatric pancreatic trauma but are not reliable or cost effective as screening tools. Costs incurred from routine serum amylase and lipase or from imaging tests subsequent to elevated serum values may be significant and unjustified.